Local Communities to Vote on Grant Funding for Greenspace Projects

Posted: Tuesday 21st March 2017

CMS is currently working with North Hertfordshire District Council to deliver improvements to Walsworth Common in Hitchin, aiming to enhance access provision and increase biodiversity, for the benefit of people and wildlife. We have been successful in the first stage of a grant application to the “Bags of Help” initiative, run by Tesco and Groundwork, which awards money raised from the 5p bag levy to environmental and greenspace projects. Our project has been shortlisted along with two others, to compete for grants of £8,000, £10,000 and £12,000. Between Monday 31st October and Sunday 13th November, shoppers in Tesco stores will be invited to vote for the project they think should receive the top grant.

The full grant award will fund the following actions, all identified in the current management plan for the site:

Replace a flight of steps with an easy-access ramp, allowing all-abilities access through a key entrance to the site

Manufacture and installation of a new interpretation panel, entrance signs and benches

Restoration of an overgrown pond to improve habitat and biodiversity

Tree works to improve the river corridor along this section of the Purwell (an internationally rare Chalk River habitat)

The size of award we receive, and subsequently the result we can deliver, is dependent upon how many votes we receive in Tesco stores. As such, we’d ask anyone with an interest in supporting local greenspaces to pop in to the Tesco Station Lyon Express in Hitchin, or the Tesco Extra stores in Royston & Baldock, and cast your vote for the Walsworth Common project. You can do this using a token given out at the check-out when you shop. The success of the project is in your hands!

For more information on the Bags of Help initiative, please visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp